| After many years Hotel California is still a classic. The | | | | (G) Welcome to the Hotel Califor (D) nia |
| words and chords are sought after items by guitar | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| players young and old. Below are the words to Hotel | | | | (Em) Such a lovely placesuch a (Bm7) lovely face |
| California with the chord names inserted into the lines in | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| brackets to avoid the complications we often get | | | | (G) Plenty of room at the Hotel Califor (D) nia |
| trying to publish lyrics and words together in articles. So | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| the name of the chord actually appears just before | | | | Any (Em) time of year (any time of year) |
| the word where the chord change occurs. If you are | | | | Â you can (F#) find it here |
| familiar with how the song sounds, it will not be a | | | | Â |
| problem. | | | | (Bm) Her mind is Tiffany twisted |
| Once you have learnt the chords and can sing and | | | | (F#) she got the Mercedes bends |
| play them at the same time, I advise you to practice | | | | (A) She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys |
| until the song is second nature because you really | | | | (E) that she calls friends |
| should try doing some improvising or at least writing | | | | (G) How they dance in the courtyard |
| your own solo to go with this song. | | | | (D) sweet summer sweat |
| The chords you are going to be using are: | | | | (Em) Some dance to remember |
| B minor which is (from sixth string to first string) 2 2 4 | | | | (F#) some dance to forget |
| 4 3 2 | | | | (Bm) So I called up the captain |
| B minor seventh 2 2 4 2 3 2 | | | | (F#) "Please bring me my wine." |
| F sharp 2 4 4 3 2 2 | | | | (A) "We haven't had that spirit here since |
| A major 0 0 2 2 2 0 | | | | (E) nineteen sixty-nine" |
| E major 0 2 2 1 0 0 | | | | (G) And still those voices are callingfrom (D) far away |
| G major 3 2 0 0 0 3 | | | | (Em) Wake you up in the middle of the night |
| D major x 0 0 2 3 2 | | | | (F#) just to hear them say |
| E minor 0 2 2 0 0 0 | | | | (G) Welcome to the Hotel Califor (D) nia |
| Bm, Bm7 and F# are all barre chords at the second | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| fret. Here are the words and chords: | | | | (Em) Such a lovely placesuch a (Bm7) lovely face |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | They (G) livin' it up at the Hotel Califor (D) nia |
| (Bm) On a dark desert highway | | | | What a (Em) nice surprise (what a nice surprise)bring |
| (F#) cool wind in my hair | | | | your (F#) alibis" |
| Â | | | | (Bm) Mirrors on the ceiling |
| (A) Warm smell of colitas | | | | (F#)the pink champagne on ice |
| (E) rising up through the air | | | | And she said (A) "We are all just prisoners here |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | (E) of our own device |
| (G) Up ahead in the distance | | | | (G) "And in the master's chambers |
| (D) I saw a shimmering light | | | | (D) they gathered for the feast |
| Â | | | | (Em) They stab it with their steely knives, but they |
| (Em) My head grew heavyand my sight grew dim | | | | (F#)just can't kill the beast |
| Â | | | | (Bm) Last thing I remember, I was |
| (F#) I had to stop for the night | | | | (F#)running for the door |
| Â | | | | (A) I had to find the passage backto the (E) place I |
| | | | | was before |
| (Bm) There she stood in the doorway | | | | (G) "Relax" said the night man |
| Â | | | | "We are (D) programmed to receive" |
| (F#) I heard the mission bell | | | | (Em) "You can check out anytime you like, but |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | (F#) you can never leave" |
| (A) And I was thinking to myself | | | | There are many versions of Hotel California, including |
| Â this could be (E) heaven or this could be hell | | | | parodies, and I suggest you listen to them all. To move |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | on and make Hotel California or any other song your |
| (G) Then she lit up a candle | | | | own, you need to get over it. Get it out of your |
| (D) and she showed me the way | | | | system. Listening to many different versions will help |
| Â Â Â Â | | | | with this as will intensive practice. Three very differing |
| (Em) There were voices down the corridor | | | | examples are by The Gipsy Kings, The Cat Empire |
| Â | | | | and a solo acoustic guitar version by Hank Marvin with |
| (F#) I thought I heard them say | | | | some very nice licks. |
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